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Running pipe

4K views 36 replies 25 participants last post by  LightsOn81 
#1 ·
Does anyone have any advise/tips/tricks on running pipe? Ive bent lots but never really ran it around obstocals, into panels, around beams ect. Thanks guys
 
#4 · (Edited)
Same way you get to Carnegie Hall.


Practice, practice, practice.


Carry a scrap piece of #12 or 14 solid. When you need to put multiple bends into one stick, bend the wire so it looks like what you want the pipe to look like. Sometimes, it's hard to visualize which way to bend the next bend when the pipe is laying on the floor.
 
#12 ·
Running around obstacles is a fine art. 3 and 4 point saddles are a must when running around stuff. If you can do an offset, you can do a 4 point, and IMO, a 4 point looks a lot better than a 3 point. It's best to get an experienced JW to show you the fine points of offsets, saddles, and drooping 90's.

~A
 
#28 ·
Always try to run it with as few degrees as possible. Things like, use 10 deg offsets where you can, bend saddles on 30s and 15s, use a kick instead of an offset where you can. Try to run every run like you will be the one pulling the wire.
 
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#29 ·
All it takes really is a couple of jobs and a few master bundles of pipe to get good at bending whatever you want. But its not until you start bending each peice of pipe with the thought in the back of your head, "what is going to be the easiest way to pull this wire?", that you start getting really good with pipe IMO.
 
#30 ·
PLEASE learn to properly plan your route! Like they said you SHOULD be thinking about the pull while running the pipe. I've learned to drop some all thread more than I used to to do away with some bends.

Often I will run the straightest part of the run and then 'finish' it off on either side when it makes sense.

Get lucky and learn from someone really good....
 
#34 ·
Try to remembor the common mutiplyers for offsets by heart.
10* 6
22* 2.6
30* 2
45* 1.4
60* 1.2
When measuring for offsets go from front to front, center to center, or back of pipe to back of pipe.
When planing your route try to make it so pipes don't have to cross to get to there destination. Makes a very nice clean install and you don't have to mess with saddles, kicks and headache.
Match your couplings with each other.
When doing box offsets try to come up with a common distance you always use, like 2 and 6, always measure it out so when you have to replicate it you know just how it was done.
 
#35 ·
Please, think about where you are putting the boxes or condulets, I have seen too many that needed a shaky ext ladder to get to, when cutting and threading could have easily put it in an accessable spot. Or one that was accessable by ladder vs a lift that the next guy might not have.
 
#37 ·
theres a lot of good pointers here. The piece of wire is a good one I'll make a list of my own. I believe running conduit is my specialty and favorite thing to do (most of the time).

1). Don't go over 360 degrees of bends
2). Figure out, ask, look up and find out your box and conduit fills. If you don't know, get your foreman to walk thru the layout of the room with you. It sucks to cut boxes in run extra pipe etc., because people don't do their homework.
3.) don't "bow and go". Use box offsets, bend around stuff. You are an electrician not a frickin loser hack
4). Try to set a pull box or condulet every 100' on longer runs.
5.) run the pipe with the building. Don't run diagonally acrossmrooms unless necessary ( which almost never)
6). STRAPPING! After you get used to it, you will learn how to use the straps to help you run it.
7). You will always get some frigging brainiac that wants to show you his method for bending. Once you learn it one way, stick with it. Let the neatness of your work do the showing off not the complications of your offset calculating. Losers they are.
8). Symmetry. Avoid saddles if you can. Some people love to show off they can bend saddles but they can occasionally be difficult to pull thru. Use 30 degree offsets as much as possible. Mark pipe with pencil not sharpie. Tihten the piss out of everything. Plan your runs as straight as possible and avoid bends.
I think that's it lol neatness and accuracy. A man that can run conduit neatly and fast will always have a job. Good luck and God bless!
 
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